How to find the right Electric Guitar Bodies AI guide
Written by an AI model from its trained knowledge.
What the AI looks for in Electric Guitar Bodies
- Neck pocket fit
- The pocket width and shape must match your neck heel (Strat vs Tele heel shape, standard vs vintage/modern width, 21 vs 22 frets). A loose pocket hurts sustain and alignment. A tight pocket can crack the finish when the neck is installed.
- Pickup routing
- Choose the route that matches your plan (SSS, HSS, HH or 'swimming pool'). Confirm the pickguard pattern matches the route. Routes can be enlarged, but not filled in cleanly.
- Bridge routing
- Match the route to the bridge: hardtail, vintage 6-screw trem, 2-point trem, or Floyd Rose recessed. Include the spring cavity for trems. Bridge stud and pivot spacing are fixed by the drilling, so the wrong body needs re-drilling.
- Finish state
- Decide between unfinished, primed and finished bodies. Unfinished bodies need full sealing before use. Unfinished wood absorbs moisture and can move. Finishing well is a significant job on its own.
- Wood and weight
- Check the stated species and weight if the seller lists them. Body weight affects comfort far more than tone, and it varies a lot within a single species.
Brands that matter
- Fender: Genuine replacement bodies for Fender models.
- Warmoth: Fender-licensed custom-routed bodies with many routing and wood options.
- Allparts: Licensed and generic replacement bodies in common routes.
- Mighty Mite: Long-running replacement body and neck brand for Fender-style builds.
- Musikraft: Fender-style bodies and necks for builders.
What to avoid
- Bodies with no stated pocket dimensions when you already own the neck.
- Assuming a Squier neck fits a USA-spec body, or the reverse, without measuring the heel.
- Unsealed bodies stored in humid conditions before finishing.
Questions
Can I put a 22-fret neck on a 21-fret Strat body?
Only if the body route clears the extended fretboard, or if you accept that the neck pickup sits under the board overhang. Check the seller's fret-count compatibility.